Returnees from Northern Bahr el Ghazal State stranded in the Abyei Administrative Area have described the increasingly dire conditions they face, urging the government to expedite their repatriation as the rainy season approaches.
On May 13, the state government transported over 1,000 returnees to their counties of origin and resettled them there.
However, according to Tong Kuot Tong, spokesperson for Aweil community in Abyei, more than 800 returnees have since arrived in Abyei and are awaiting transportation from the state government as conditions deteriorate.
“There were some trucks that came and took many returnees, but several remained. They (State government officials) promised us that after two days, they would send trucks back to collect our returnees based in Abyei market,” Kuot told Standard Zone News.
“So from that day up to now, no truck has been sent to come and collect these returnees. And the big matter was, the returnees are coming daily, today and tomorrow, day by day, and tomorrow will increase, it is unpredictable,” he added.
Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, Northern Bahr el Ghazal has faced mounting pressure to accommodate refugees and returnees crossing the border into the state.
The state government, in collaboration with humanitarian organisations, has been working to address the dire humanitarian needs of the population.
However, Kuot highlighted the severe challenges faced by stranded returnees in Abyei, many of whom are now selling their belongings to meet daily needs.
“Since they came in February, they are using their available resources. They are selling their mattress, their beds. These are the things that they are defending for themselves. There is no support from the government or non-governmental organisations. They need urgent intervention so that they will be taken as well as soon, before the rainy season starts,” Kuot added, highlighting the fear that the rain would cause if it started raining.
In response, Mr. Lual Awach Mangar, chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, stated that plans are underway to transport the remaining groups stranded in Abyei Administrative Area.
“The government plans to transport the remaining returnees from Abyei to Northern Bahr el Ghazal before the end of this month or the beginning of June. Arrangements are ongoing, and after those arrangements, we will return to Abyei,” Awach confirmed, adding that the government aims to transport 650 returnees from the state.
